To you dear IJMBite, this is another exam preparatory guide for you.
one of the most important things you need to know before you even sit down to study is what cut off point you are targeting. It is not enough to just pass. You need to score high enough for the specific course you want to study. And trust me, the IJMB exam is not a walk in the park. On this basis, I have list all cutoff points and a checklist to help you reach your targetd points.
It is a serious A'Level programme that requires consistent study, a good understanding of your subjects, and strong exam technique. Someone with a JAMB score of 200 can end up having two (2) points in JUPEB or IJMB. Over 30% of students usually go home with (0) zero point. Image a student scoring 39% in physics, 39% in biology and 39% In chemistry which equal to zero point. It's better you don't even show up there.
Related content: download complete Jupeb past questions and answers
The IJMB exam is graded on a point system across three subjects. The higher your combined points, the better your chances of getting direct entry admission into 200 level in your preferred university and course.
See, A-level Exam is one of the exams that trigger emotional pains. Failing JAMB is understandable in many cases. In short, some students actually write JAMB up to five times without feeling the pains. You can't afford to write JUPEB or IJMB up to five times because of the workload and societal influence.
Imagine, being call a law student during your program, everyone hope that you're going to become a lawyer, only to see you in political science by September haha! Let's see how much you have to spend in the cause of running the program. Some students spend up to (N1,000,000 ) one million in 9 months. You might notice this because you spent bit by bit. See the math:
An average student spend N3000 per day for feeding. In nine months, that will be around N810,000. Now, add up your school fees and other things. Someone writing JAMB 5 times is only going to spend N35000.
Why am I painting all these pictures in your mind? It's for you to change your mindset and focus.
The listed marks or points are not typical, however, past analysis has helped us predict the future.
Below are the current cut off points you should be targeting for each course and faculty in order to secure admission.
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE
Agric Economics - 9 points and above
Agric Extension - 9 points and above
Animal Science - 9 points and above
Crop Science - 9 points and above
Soil Science - 9 points and above
Food Science and Technology - 9 points and above
Home Science - 9 points and above
Nutrition and Dietetics - 9 points and above
FACULTY OF ARTS
Archaeology and Tourism - 9 points and above
English and Literary Studies - 9 points and above
Fine and Applied Arts - 9 points and above
Foreign Languages - 9 points and above
History and International Studies - 9 points and above
Linguistics and Nigerian Languages - 9 points and above
Mass Communication - 11 points and above
Music - 9 points and above
Theatre and Film Studies - 9 points and above
Combined Arts - 9 points and above
Other Arts courses - 9 points and above
FACULTY OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Biochemistry - 10 points and above
Botany - 9 points and above
Combined Biological Sciences - 9 points and above
Microbiology - 9 points and above
Zoology - 9 points and above
Other Biological Science courses - 9 points and above
FACULTY OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Accountancy - 9 points and above
Banking and Finance - 10 points and above
Marketing - 10 points and above
Business Management - 10 points and above
Other Management courses - 9 points and above
FACULTY OF DENTISTRY
Dentistry - 13 points and above
This is one of the most competitive courses in the country. If you are targeting dentistry, you need to be scoring consistently high across all three of your IJMB subjects. There is very little room for error.
FACULTY OF EDUCATION
Adult Education - 9 points and above
Education Art - 9 points and above
Education Chemistry - 9 points and above
Education Social Sciences - 10 points and above
Agric Education - 9 points and above
Business Education - 9 points and above
Guidance and Counselling - 9 points and above
Health Education - 9 points and above
Home Economics Education - 9 points and above
Industrial Technical Education - 9 points and above
Library and Information Science - 9 points and above
Science Education - 9 points and above
Other Education courses - 9 points and above
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
Agric and Bioresources Engineering - 10 points and above
Civil Engineering - 10 points and above
Electrical Engineering - 10 points and above
Electronics Engineering - 10 points and above
Mechanical Engineering - 10 points and above
Engineering is another area where you cannot afford to be average. The IJMB exam tests your understanding of mathematics and sciences at a deep level, and engineering courses demand that you show real mastery of these subjects before you can be considered.
FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Architecture - 10 points and above
Estate Management - 9 points and above
Geo-Informatics and Surveying - 10 points and above
Urban and Regional Planning - 9 points and above
FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Radiography - 12 points and above
Medical Rehabilitation - 13 points and above
Nursing - 15 points and above
Nursing is one of the hardest cut off points on this list. Getting 15 points in IJMB means you need to be performing at the highest level across your three subjects. This is not something you can prepare for casually.
FACULTY OF LAW
Law - 13 points and above
Other Arts courses - 9 points and above
Law is another course that demands serious preparation. You need 13 points and above to stand a realistic chance of getting in. The exam is not just about reading wide. You need to understand the material well enough to apply it under exam conditions.
FACULTY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
Medicine and Surgery - 15 points and above
Related Medical Science courses including Medical Laboratory Science - 14 points and above
Medicine is the most competitive course you can apply for through IJMB. Scoring 15 points requires near-perfect performance across your subjects. Many students spend months preparing intensively and still fall short. If medicine is your goal, you need to start preparing early, study with past questions, and leave nothing to chance.
FACULTY OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
Pharmacy - 15 points and above
Like medicine, pharmacy requires 15 points. This tells you everything about how seriously you need to take your preparation if this is the path you want to follow.
FACULTY OF PHYSICAL SCIENCES
Computer Science - 10 points and above
Geology - 10 points and above
Mathematics - 9 points and above
Physics and Astronomy - 9 points and above
Pure and Industrial Chemistry - 9 points and above
Statistics - 10 points and above
Computer and Statistics combined - 10 points and above
FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
Economics - 10 points and above
Geography - 8 points and above
Philosophy - 9 points and above
Political Science - 10 points and above
Psychology - 9 points and above
Public Administration - 10 points and above
Religion - 9 points and above
Social Work - 9 points and above
Sociology and Anthropology - 9 points and above
FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
Veterinary Medicine - 10 points and above
How Hard is the IJMB Exam
The IJMB exam is genuinely difficult. It is an advanced level programme designed to test students at a higher academic standard than WAEC or NECO. You are expected to show a deeper understanding of your subjects, write structured essays, solve complex problems, and demonstrate that you are ready for university level work at 200 level.
The fact that courses like Medicine, Pharmacy, and Nursing require 15 points tells you a lot. To score 15 points across three subjects means you need to be performing at a very high level consistently. Even courses that look straightforward on the surface like Economics or Political Science still require 10 points, which means you cannot afford to take any subject lightly.
Many students underestimate the IJMB exam because they assume it is easier than JAMB. It is not. The difference is that IJMB rewards students who study deeply over a period of time rather than those who cram at the last minute.
Checklist for Meeting Your Required Points
Here is exactly what you need to do to hit your target score.
1. Cover your syllabus and read between the lines
Knowing the syllabus is the starting point but it is not enough on its own. Every topic you see on that syllabus has layers underneath it. You need to understand concepts deeply, not just memorise surface definitions. IJMB examiners are looking for students who can think, not just recall. Read your materials carefully, question what you are reading, and make sure you actually understand what is being said before you move on.
2. Practice with past questions
Download the FreshNote app and start practicing with past questions immediately. It is not a guarantee that you will see the exact same questions in your exam, but you will almost certainly see the same question patterns. A-Level exams including IJMB and JUPEB recycle questions regularly. The only exception is Literature, where the texts change from year to year, but even there the style of questioning remains the same. Past questions tell you what examiners care about. You can avoid to do without it
3. Practice extensive and analytical writing
This is where many students lose marks they should have kept. You might know the correct answer in your head but if you cannot write it out in a clear, detailed, and analytical way, you will not claim all the marks available. IJMB is an essay-based exam. You need to practise writing full answers, not just jotting points. Write as if you are explaining to someone who knows nothing about the topic. Structure your answers, support your points, and go deep.
4. Use A-Level standard materials
Do not study with secondary school textbooks and expect A-Level results. The materials you use must match the level of the exam you are writing. FreshNote has A-Level standard study materials already in place for IJMB and JUPEB students. Using the right materials makes a significant difference in how well you understand your subjects and how confidently you walk into the exam hall.
5. Believe in yourself
This sounds simple but it matters more than most students realise. Many people fail the IJMB exam not because they are not smart enough but because they talk themselves out of their own potential. You chose this path because you are capable of it. Put in the work, follow the steps above, and trust that your preparation will show in your results.